Porches and decks are starting to become some of the most popular home improvement projects that homeowners are tackling today. This is because outdoor living spaces have been in greater demand than ever before since we’re mostly limited to staying indoors. And we want to make our home as beautiful as possible.

Outdoor living spaces are versatile enough to feature everything from quiet places to relax to fully functional entertainment spaces for you and your family to enjoy, with a full-blown kitchen and dining area. No matter how grand or ambitious your home renovation plans are, you can’t go wrong with adding a deck to enhance the value of your home as well as its functionality.

However, some homeowners are torn between two deck types: a raised deck or a grade-level deck. In today’s blog post, the trusted siding and deck installation contractor in your area, AllPoint Construction, helps you decide on whether you should build a raised or grade-level deck, and the importance of decking systems.

Why Build a Decking System

Before even discussing what kind of deck you should build, it’s important to be educated on why you should build a deck or if you can even build one on your property. Here are a few reasons why you should build a decking system.

Decks Increase Your Home’s Value

When you’re looking to increase your home’s resale value, investing in your outdoor living area by building a quality decking system is the way to go. Most home improvement contractors would agree that a deck installation project offers a 100% return on investment (ROI) when you sell your home. It’s also worth noting that the enhanced exterior will help you sell your home even quicker. While it’s not recommended, some homeowners choose to install decks on their own and save even more. After all, decks are one of the hottest trend in the home remodeling industry.

Decks Liven Up Your Outdoor Space

If you want to host a party for your friends, then decks are a great way to add functional space where people can gather and enjoy their time together. It’s also worth noting that decks are less claustrophobic than crowded or cramped spaces. It’s also easier to clean your decks rather than dealing with spills or messes indoors. You can add an outdoor grill or a portable bar to truly create an outdoor entertainment space.

Should You Build a Raised or Grade-Level Deck

When you’ve finally decided to contact your home improvement contractor to build your decking system, your first step is to decide whether you want to have a raised deck or a grade-level deck. While raised decks are the common choice for many homeowners, ground- or grade-level decks still have their own advantages. Here are some things you should consider.

Building a Raised Deck

Raised decks, similar to custom decks, will heavily depend on the design of your home. It’s a normal occurrence for raised ranch-style ramblers with multi-level floors to have raised decks attached to their home’s second story. The elevated deck can have stair access on the outside with the stair height mirroring the height of the indoor stairs.

Some home styles that feature raised decking include Colonial, Victorian or Cape Cod-style homes which have the decks attached at a foundation level, usually two to three feet above the ground. The crawl space beneath it counts as an additional level, even if it isn’t an “actual” level. These decks are raised sufficiently enough just to accommodate the height of the backdoor for easier access. Stairs can also be built on the outside to provide people another access point to the deck straight from the backyard.

Perks of Raised Decks

Other than providing additional outdoor space, the proper deck and patio design can increase your home’s square footage and your home’s resale value in the long run. It’s also a great way to complete the look and feel of your backyard – as long as it’s coupled with plants, trees and other landscaping elements. Adding furniture to a raised deck is also a great way to entertain your family and friends during special occasions. You can hold a relaxing Sunday barbeque outdoors by setting up some tables and a grill along with some chairs. However, you need to follow proper fire safety protocols since this can damage your decking as well as the rest of your home.

Grade-Level Decks

“Grade” is a technical term used to describe the ground level. So, this basically means building a decking system at the ground level. Grade-level decks are simpler to build than raised decks since they only consist of a framed box of floorboards, secured by joists several inches above the ground. When these grade-level decks are built unattached to the rest of your home, they’re commonly referred to as platforms. Platforms that don’t measure up to 18 inches in height do not require railings, but this still depends on your local building code. Make sure that you consult this concern with your local decking contractor to clarify the situation.

Benefits of Grade-Level Decks

The biggest benefit of grade-level decks is the convenience and cost of their installation. Since they don’t require piers or railings, grade-level decks are a lot cheaper to install compared to raised decks. The savings that you get from the project can be invested into outdoor furniture for your enjoyment. However, you should use water-resistant materials since ground-level decks are more prone to moisture-related problems.

The best choice for your home totally depends on your preference and your home’s layout. Some architectural styles are simply a better fit for raised decks while others are a match made in heaven for grade-level decks.

Planning on doing a home improvement project that involves porches and decks in the future? Trust in AllPoint Construction! We are a family-owned business with a skilled crew dedicated to giving the best workmanship and customer service to their clients. Give us a call at (734) 407-7110, or fill out our contact form to get a FREE estimate. Talk to us today!